Greece: SYRIZA distances itself from leftist violence

The homes of five Greek journalists were targeted with bombs, the offices of PASOK and ND were hit by incendiary devices, and bank branches were subject to arson attacks. These incidents of leftist violence in Greece occurred over the last three days.

New Democracy, the leading party in the three-way Greek government coalition, responded to the violent attacks on the offices of New Democracy and PASOK, and the attacks on the homes of five journalists by saying: "The government is only asking the obvious in a democracy: the very precise denunciation and repudiation of all forms of violence from all politicians."

The government condemned SYRIZA's talk of "lynching political opponents" which legitimizes violence, saying they "are preaching intolerance leading to civil war in bomb attacks on homes of journalists and political offices. "(To Vima)

The coalition of the extreme left, SYRIZA, attempted to distance itself from the violent attacks, declaring "SYRIZA has nothing to do with acts of indiscriminate violence." There is speculation in the Greek media that the sudden disassociation from violence by the left, is due to their recent slip in the polls.

Ekathimerini reported a group called Militant Minority claimed responsibility for the gas canister attacks against the homes of five journalists, saying they were targeted as “official representatives of the system.”

Leftist violence in Greece is an integral part of the political system, drawing little attention from the international media which focuses on violence attributed to the far-right. The leftist political parties rarely condemn the riots and violence associated with their rallies and protests, including the arson attack which left three dead in the Marfin bank.

A recent spate of bomb attacks against the offices of ultra-nationalist party Golden Dawn (Chrysi Avgi) were not condemned by any of the other political parties in Greece. The left-wing Anti-Fascist Front claimed responsibility for a bombing against Golden Dawn.